How do I change the default font in Word 2013?

Anonymous
2013-04-03T20:38:32+00:00

I am using Office 2013 on a Windows 7 platform. When I open Word the font is set to Calibri size 11. I would like the default to be Times Roman size 12. I cannot seem to find this as an option.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Jay Freedman 208.3K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2013-04-03T22:02:00+00:00

In the old days, you would modify the Normal style and click the "New documents based on this template" option in the Modify Style dialog to make it change Normal.dotm. While that still sorta works, it now has some nasty side effects (such as not taking effect in tables). The right way:

  • Open a new blank document.
  • Click the Design tab.
  • Click the Fonts button (near the right end of the Document Formatting group) and click Customize Fonts at the bottom of the gallery.
  • Change the Body Font box to Times New Roman, and optionally change the Heading Font and the Name entries. Click OK
  • Click the Set as Default button (to the right of the Fonts button) and OK the prompt.
  • To change the size, first display the Styles pane (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S) and click the Manage Styles button (third from left at the bottom).
  • Go to the Set Defaults tab of the dialog. With the "+Body" entry selected in the Font box, select 12 in the Size box. Click the "New documents based on this template" option and click OK.
  • Close Word. If you're prompted to save the Normal template, say yes.

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  1. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2015-01-07T05:02:42+00:00

    Are you really sure that you do not have this

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-01-07T22:18:18+00:00

    Yes, I am sure I do not have "file".  There is a round circle to the left of "home" which is called an "Office Button" when I put my cursor on it.  It opens up to these choices: new, open, save, save as, print, prepare, send, publish, close.  There is no choice for an option.  I have even opened up some of the choices in the "Office Button" drop down menu, but again, no "option."  But that's OK, because I did get my default changed by using the question mark on the Word document page when I opened up a new document.  So my original "problem" is taken care of.

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  3. Suzanne S Barnhill 279.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2015-01-07T22:28:13+00:00

    If you have the Office Button, then you have Word 2007, not Office Home & Student 2013 as you stated in your first post. In Word 2007, the button you're looking for is labeled Word Options, but that won't do you any good because (a) the Ribbon is not customizable in Word 2007, and (b) the Design tab was introduced in Word 2013.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-01-08T01:44:25+00:00

    Thank you, Suzanne.  You are so right!  Now that you mention it, I do remember.  I do have Word 2007.  A few months ago, I purchased Office Home & Student 2013 (as I first mentioned) for my grandson and kept the box here at our house.  So I was thinking that was what I had.  Guess I was a little mixed up! :-)  Well, at least I did get the default font changed, and I am satisfied with the way things are now.  Thanks for your input.

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